Orchard heater



1, 1936. J. MAHLSTEDT 7 2 050,760

ORCHARD HEATER Filed Jan. 11, 1933 INVENTOR JF/flf/LSTEQZ BY r Patented Aug. 11, 1936 iJNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE ORCHARD HEATER fornia Application January 11, 1933, Serial No. 651,132

14 Claims.

' all directions;

Fourth, to provide a heater of this class in which the stack or other parts will not readily burn or wear out by reason of the uniformity of distribution of heat, thereby prolonging the life of the heater;

Fifth, to provide novel and simple means for preheating fuel oil vapor from the fuel oil bowl,

or any other fuel used;

Sixth, to provide simple, novel and efficient means for drawing fuel gas or fuel vapor into the preheater, but means which will not prevent efficient preheating of the fuel gas or vapor and which will not divert such gas or vapor from its prescribed course; Seventh, to provide novel, simple and efficient means for initially mixing the heated fuel gas or vapor with air, but with an amount of air insufficient to sustain combustion;

Eighth, to provide novel, simple and efficient means for successively admitting amounts of air sumcient to sustain gradually increased combustion until the fuel gas is substantially wholly consumed, and in which the air inlet openings are positioned tangentially with respect to the stack or the combustion chamber and in opposite tangential directions, whereby an efficient mixture of the air with the fuel gas and a tremendous turbulence is set up, and whereby the heat is confined to the lower portion of the heater or stack, thereby also permitting a rela tively short stack being used which will reduce the danger of the stack being blown off;

Ninth, to provide a preheating drum which is open at is lower end and positioned over the opening of the fuel oil bowl so that the preheater drum serves as a cushion for the pulsating air or gas caused by the successive popping explosions during operation of the heater, and thus does not permit the sucking out of the pilot fire in the fuel oil bowl;

Tenth, to provide a heater of this class which may be quickly lighted regardless of the oil level in the bowl and regardless of the nature of the oil or other fuel used;

Eleventh, to provide means in connection with the preheater, the combustion chamber, or the stack, for retaining some of the lighting fluid when lighting the heater to expedite lighting of the heater; and,

Twelfth, to provide a heater of this class which is durable and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, I have devised a heater of the class mentioned having certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an orchard heater embodying my invention in its preferred form of construction, certain parts and portions of the heater being broken away and in section to facilitate the illustration; Fig. 2 is a top view thereof with the cover for the stack removed; Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views thereof taken respectively on lines 33 and 4--4 of Fig. 1; and, Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view thereof taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Like characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawing.

The orchard heater embodying my invention and shown in the drawing consists essentially of a fuel oil bowl or receptacle I, a cover 2, a collar 3, a combustion chamber member 4, a preheater drum 5, a stack 6, and a cap or cover I.

The bowl i and cover 2 are similar to those now used in orchard heaters, the bowl I being adapted to contain a supply of fuel oil.

The other enumerated parts of the orchard heater are supported by and on the collar 3.

This collar is provided at its central and lower portion with a downwardly extending flange 3a which is positioned around an upwardly extending central flange 20!, on the cover 2, the flange 2a, surrounding the opening in the cover which permits the fuel gases or vapors generated in the bowl I to enter the preheating drum 5. This collar is provided also with an upwardly extending flange 31) near its periphery for locating the lower end of the combustion chamber member 4, the latter resting upon a shoulder at the lower portion of the flange 3b. The portion 30 connecting the upper portion of the flange 3a and the lower portion of the flange 3b is preferably inclined downwardly toward the center, as shown in the drawing, and is provided with a. plurality of circularly arranged holes M, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, for admitting air for initial mixing with the fuel gas or vapor, as will be described hereafter.

The combustion chamber'member 4 extends upwardly fromthe cover 2 "concentrically therewith, and supports at its upper end the lower end of the stack 6, the latter being preferably positioned at the outer side ofthe combustion chamber member. In the side wall of the member l, between the flange of the collar 3 and the stack 6, are provided a plurality of vertically spaced apart circular series of openings la, 4b, ie and id. These openings are in the form of louvers for keeping out precipitation and for giving direction to the admitted air. The two lower circular rows of openings or louvers are 5 positioned at one angle with the vertical elements of the combustion chamber'member while the two upper circular rows of openings or louvers are positioned at the same angle with the vertical elements of the combustion chamber -member but from, the opposite direction. These openings or louvers also admit the air tangentially with respect to the periphery of the combustion chamber member and cause the gases therein to whirl in substantially the direction of the incomingair, but the upper rows of openings or louvers, being directed in the opposed tangential direction from the lower openings, tend to cause the gases to flow in the opposite circular direction, but such counter flow straightens. the direction of the gases so that 7 they merely'rise' Such angular position of the openings or louvers also causes-thorough mixing of the airwith the gases or vapors and also causes combustion to take place at the lower .portion of the stack or within the combustion chamber, thereby causing the fuel gases or vapors' to be substantially wholly consumed before they reach the top of the stack.

The preheater 5 is in the form of a drum' or inverted cup which is preferably upwardly converging. This preheater drum is provided with a plurality of legs 8 which extend downwardly in a diverging manner and support the drum on the collar 3 as well as centrally locate the drum above and coaxially with the opening in the cover 2." The side wall 'of the preheater drum is spaced considerably from the outer wall of the combustion. chamber member and forms with 'th'e latter member acomb ustion chamber. The space within the preheater drum is adapted for receiving and heating the fuel gases or vapors coming from the bowl 1 At the upper end of the drum andcentrally therein is a small opening 511 which communicates with the stack 5 so that the draft in the stack causes a draft at the opening 5a and facilitates the drawing of the fuel gases or vapors into the drum. At the upper end of the drum is also provided a receptacle 5b which is open at its top side for the purpose of receiving and retaining.,some of the heater drum .be noted thatwhenlighttioned a cap I for extinguishing the heater.

This cap prevents the escape of the burnt gases ofcombustion, causes a backing up of the same and quickly extinguishes the heater without blowing olfofth'e cap.

The operation of the heater is briefly as follows:

The lighting of the heater is accomplished in the usual manner. The generation of gas increases in intensityin the bowl while the heater reaches its proper operation, at which time the heater must be regulated by the regulator 2b for continuous burning.

The method of the conventional gas generation is used in the bowl. The generated fueli gases or vapors are drawn into the preheaterzdrum by the draft action through the smallhole inthetop of-the drum. This hole is insuflicient to permit any: appreciable amount of fuel gases or vapors to escape. These gases or vapors: travel down along the side walls of the drum and. emerge from the lowerperipheral .edgeof V the drum to be deflected. over and. substantially transversely to the holesin thecollar 3,-which causesthorough mixing of the air and gases. During the period the gases are inside of the. drum they become intensely. heated since the. drum is constantly red hot. air admitted. through the ho1es.3d is preferably insufi'icient to support combustion, but this mix--- ture is met with a diagonal-current of air coming in through the lower-row of openings or: louvers id. At this point combustion. begins. The mixture takes on a spiral movement which is augmented by thenext set of: diagonal louver openings. While combustion takes place an ac-- tive spiral motion of the gases in an inward direction. is set up and this movement continues until the gases reach the reversed or opposed diagonal;

air movement when an active turbulence is set up which causesa violent mixing of the gases and.

air, causing continued and increased combustion. At the same time the spiral movement of the flame and gases is-gradually being changed to a vertical direction which continues until the gases;-

have passed the upper row of louvers; At'this point the topof the preheatingdrumis reached and the substantially burned gasesleave-the an-- nular combustion chamber and enter the circular combustion chamber. The gases, still ignited;.,

roll and curl within the:- lower portion of the stack untilcombustion is entirely completed.

It will here be noted. that certain structuralz.

features of my invention are applicable to-various;

types of heaters and-burners andthose using different types of fuel and,- further, that the terms: fuel gas, fuel gases, vapors, and the=like, are used generically, and are intended to includeall fuel-gases, fuel vapors,gaseous fuels, and what-- soever other type of fuel which might be used in my heater.

Though Ihave shown-and-desc-ribed 2.11381- ticular construction, combination and 'arrangement of parts andportions, I do not wish to be. limited to thisparticular construction, combination. and arrangement. but desire toinclude in the scope ofmy invention the construction, combination and arrangementsubstantially-as set The amount of 35 forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a heater, means for supplying fuel gas, a combustion chamber, and a gas preheater positioned within and spaced from the outer wall of the combustion chamber and over and open to said means and provided with an opening at the upper portion thereof to facilitate the drawing of fuel gas thereinto, the fuel gas being heated in the preheater and discharged from the lower portion thereof, the lower portion of the combustion chamber having an air inlet to admit air for mixture with heated fuel gas discharged from the preheater.

2. In a heater, means for supplying fuel gas, a combustion chamber, and a gas preheater positioned within and spaced from the outer wall of the combustion chamber and over and open to said means and provided with an opening at the upper portion thereof to facilitate the drawing of fuel gas thereinto, the fuel gas being heated in the preheater and discharged from the lower portion thereof, the lower end and also the side portion of the combustion chamber opposite the preheater having air inlets to admit air for mixture with heated fuel gas discharged from the preheater.

3. In a heater, means for supplying fuel gas, a stack having at its lower portion an enlarged combustion chamber positioned over said means and provided at its lower end and radially outwardly from said means with air inlets and also with other air inlets in its outer wall upwardly from said lower end, and a gas preheater positioned within and spaced from the outer wall of the combustion chamber of the stack and positioned over and open to said means and also positioned above the lower end of the combustion chamber, the lower portion of the preheater communicating with the lower portion of the combustion chamber.

4. In a heater, a fuel gas generating bowl, a combustion chamber, and a gas preheater positioned within and spaced from the outer wall of the combustion chamber and over and on the bowl to receive fuel gas thereinto from said bowl, the fuel gas being heated in the preheater and discharged from the lower portion thereof, the lower portion of the combustion chamber having an air inlet to admit air for mixture with heated fuel gas discharged from the preheater.

5. In a heater, means for supplying fuel gas, a stack, and an inverted cup-shaped gas preheater positioned at the lower portion of and spaced inwardly from the stack and with its lower open end over said means to receive fuel gas therefrom, the fuel gas being heated in the preheater and discharged outwardly beyond the lower edge thereof, the lower portion of the stack having an air inlet to admit air for mixture with the heated fuel gas discharged from the preheater.

6. In a heater, means for supplying fuel gas, a stack, and an inverted cup-shaped gas preheater positioned at the lower portion of and spaced inwardly from the stack and with its lower open end over said means to receive fuel gas therefrom, the fuel gas being heated in the preheater and discharged outwardly beyond the lower edge thereof, the lower portion of the stack having an air inlet to admit air for mixture with the heated fuel gas discharged from the preheater, said preheater having at the middle portion of its upper end an opening in communication with the upper portion of the stack to facilitate the drawing of fuel gas into the preheater.

7. In a heater, means for supplying fuel gas, a combustion chamber, and a gas preheater positioned within said combustion chamber and over and above said means and provided at its upper portion with a receptacle for receiving igniting liquid from the upper portion of the combustion chamber, the lower portion of the combustion chamber having an air inlet to admit air for mixture with heated fuel gas from the preheater.

8. In an orchard heater, means for supplying fuel gas, a stack positioned and extending there.- above and provided at its lower end with an air inlet for admitting a limited amount of air and provided above said inlet with vertically spaced openings for admitting air, the air admitted.

through the lowermost of the latter openings being sufficient to sustain combustion and the air admitting through the openings thereabove sustaining gradually increased combustion until said fuel gas is substantially wholly consumed, and an inverted cup shaped gas preheater positioned within the lower portion of the stack above said means and adapted to receive into its open lower end full gas from said means and preheat the same, the lower peripheral portion of the preheater being positioned adjacent said air admitting inlet and in such a position relative thereto so as to direct heated fuel gas substantially transversely across the path of the stream of air entering the heater through said inlet for thoroughly mixing the fuel gas and air.

9. In a heater, means for supplying fuel gas, and a combustion chamber positioned and extending thereabove and provided at its lower end with an inlet for admitting a limited amount of air, and provided thereabove with vertically spaced openings for admitting additional air, said openings being positioned to direct air laterally long the inner Wall of the combustion chamber, the upper of the vertically spaced openings being directed in the opposite lateral direction from the lower openings.

10. In a heater, means for supplying fuel gas, and a combustion chamber positioned and extending thereabove and provided at its lower end with an inlet for admitting a limited amount of air, and provided thereabove with vertically spaced openings for admitting additional air, said openings being positioned to direct air angularly upwardly and also laterally along the inner wall of the combustion chamber, the

upper of the vertically spaced openings being directed in the opposite lateral direction from the lower openings.

11. In a heater, means for supplying fuel gas, and a long combustion chamber positioned to receive fuel gas from said means, said combustion chamber having longitudinally spaced openings in its side walls, said openings being positioned to direct air laterally along the inner wall of the combustion chamber, the openings at one end of the combustion chamber being directed in the opposite lateral direction from the openings at the other end.

12. In a heater, means for supplying gas, and a long combustion chamber positioned to receive fuel gas from said means, said combustion chamber having longitudinally spaced openings in its side walls, said openings being positioned to direct air into and along the inner wall of the: combustion chamber and laterally butangularly with: respect to the direction of the gases flowing therethrough, the openings at one end of the combustion chamber being directed 5-: intheopposite lateral direction fromthe openings at-the other end.

13. In an orchard heater, a fuel receptacle, a: combustion chamber mounted on and extendingabove the receptacle and provided at its l0-lower end with an inlet for admitting a limited amount of air and provided thereabove with vertically spaced openings for admitting additional: air, said openings being positioned to direct air angularly upwardly and also laterally 15': alongthe inner wall of the combustion chamber,

and a gas preheater positioned within and spaced from the outer wall of the combustion chamber and over an opening of said fuel receptacle and adapted to receive fuel gas from said opening, and provided with an opening: at the upper portion .thereof to facilitate the drawing of fuel gassthereinto, the lower peripheral portion of the preheater being positioned adjacent said air inlet but 1 spaced thereabove.

14. A combustion housing for anorchardheatercomprisinga vapor heater having an openingat its lower-end to receive fuel vapor and having a side wall and a top wall at the upper end thereof;- an outer housing having -a side wall surrounding and spaced from saidvapor heater side'wall to define therebetween an annular chamber; and a stack portion extending upwardly from said outer housing above the level of said vapor heater; said vapor heaterber adjacent said communication means, andsaid outer housing side wall having openings at its upper portion for-admitting air into said annular chamber adjacent the level of the upper end of said vapor heater; and the interior of said stack portion communicating with the upper end of saidannular chamber.

JOHN FREDERICK MAHLSTEDT. 

